iTRAIN During iCARE Nigeria: Virtual Implementation Research Training Course Nested Within an Ongoing Trial.

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Implementation Science
• Medical Education

Background:

• Limited implementation research (IR) training opportunities exist for HIV clinicians and program implementers in Nigeria.
• A virtual training program, iTRAIN, was developed to address this gap for the iCARE Nigeria study.
• The program targeted clinicians and staff involved in HIV program implementation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a virtual implementation research training program (iTRAIN) for Nigerian HIV professionals.
• To enhance participants' knowledge and skills in implementation research.
• To foster the development of research proposals relevant to the iCARE Nigeria study.

Main Methods:

• A nine-session online course covering core IR principles, delivered via asynchronous lectures and synchronous sessions.
• Facilitator-led mentoring provided to six study site teams for developing IR proposals.
• Pre- and post-training surveys using the Kirkpatrick Framework and explanatory mixed methods analysis were employed for evaluation.

Main Results:

• 42 participants enrolled, with 50% having no prior IR experience; 95% completion rate.
• 79% rated the course excellent, and 79% felt their IR knowledge goals were met.
• 71% reported significant knowledge increase, and 97% intended to use their new skills; all sites developed concept notes, with four implemented.

Conclusions:

• The iTRAIN program was a successful, embedded virtual training initiative that improved participant knowledge and capacity in implementation research.
• The developed training model can serve as a blueprint for study-embedded IR capacity-building in Nigeria and similar resource-limited settings.